202 SERINUS MARSHALLI. 



might be kept beyond the borders of Cape Colony by the 

 conservative feeling of the original race, so I consider we 

 should not be justified in stating that S. marshaUi inhabits 

 S. Africa and is met with in St. Helena only as an introduced 

 species. 



On St. Helena it is, according to Mr. Mellis (Ibis, 1870, 

 p. 101), next to Estrilda astrild, the most abundant land-bird on 

 the island, and he remarks : " It is to be regretted that its 

 numbers are diminishing, very probably owing to the trade 

 carried on in them between the natives and the shipping. 

 The note of this bird is less shrill and much sweeter than 

 that of the real Canary ; perched on the branch of a tree, it 

 will, on a summer's morning, sing unceasingly for hours." It 

 associates with other Finches, and is particularly fond of fruit, 

 ripe peaches especially. 



In Benguela these Canaries have been met with by 

 Anchieta at Huilla, and in German South-western Africa they 

 are rare according to Mr. Fleck, who found them perched upon 

 bushes near the mountain streams. In the British Museum 

 there are specimens from Damaraland, Great Namaqualand, 

 the Transvaal, Matabelelaud and Mashonaland. I do not find 

 either this species or S. flaviventris recorded from Natal or 

 Zululand, but according to Mr. T. Ayres the present species is 

 abundant at Potchefstroom, breeding there amongst the hedge- 

 rows in September, and Mr. Guy Marshall calls them common 

 in Mashonaland, where they congregate in flocks during the 

 early winter. 



I have named the species after my friend Mr. Guy A. K. 

 Marshall, who has done much good work in Mashonaland. 



